
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 23, 1994                   TAG: 9403230064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MAVISDALE                                LENGTH: Short

ACCIDENT CAUSES VA.'S 1ST 1994 COAL FATALITY

Federal and state officials have launched an investigation into Virginia's first coal mining death of the year.

Cecil L. Baker, 45, of Harrogate, Tenn., died Friday night. He was working the evening shift at Consolidation Coal Co.'s Buchanan No. 1 mine. Mining officials believe the accident happened around 8:45 p.m. while Baker was working on a belt line that carries coal from the mine.

Kathy Snyder, spokeswoman for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, said preliminary indications are that the man got caught in the belt line.

MSHA and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy started a joint investigation into the accident Monday.

While 83 people were working in the mine at the time, officials do not believe there were any witnesses to the accident.

Paul Kvederis, manager of public relations with CONSOL Inc., which owns Consolidation Coal Co., said Baker had worked for the company since 1977. He had been employed as a utility man at the Buchanan County mine for 14 months.

- Associated Press

by CNB